Wade Sharp – Keyboards

Genre: Classic Rock, Originals

My name is Wade Sharp and I am a musician currently based in Essex, Ontario. I currently play keyboards and guitar in a classic rock band named Common Ground (not to be confused with Steve Frost). I also play guitar and sing in a duo with Lady J’ai Mac. From a historical standpoint, I played drums and bass in Mickey’s Goodtime Band, keyboards and guitar with oldies group Free’N’Easy and keyboards with the Bad Apples, one of Windsor’s premier classic rock bands during the 80’s and 90’s. A succession of bands followed through the early 00’s, Swing the Cat, Hazel Moon and the Mission. During this period, I also spent three years recording a CD of original songs with the help of some friends that we called RBW.

As I have several friends who are active in the London music scene, I have been following several of the artists and bands for some time, becoming a member of Allstage almost since its inception. A former Bad Apple, Ronnie Raffoul, was a one time a member of Bender and I have been following the band with some interest since then. I attend shows when possible as I work quite steady but in the last year have seen a number of London bands including Doug Varty (an acquaintance from the Seacliff days in Leamington), Bender, Shelly Rastin, Sarah Smith, Best Buds, Hurtin’ Merv and others. I am pleased to also be assisting Stacey Zegers in the financing of her new CD, which should be released shortly. 2014 looks to be an active year with the band and the duo both working steady but I hope to have time to record a second CD. The first one took 3 years but hoping this one is finished up in much less time.

I work as a freelance sound engineer in live situations for a number of bands and venues and while considered old school in that regard, I rely on the ears more than the computers to make the band sound good. I really don’t care what the book says if it doesn’t sound good. I have been fortunate to work with bands like Glass Tiger, Blue Rodeo, Great Big See, Rita McNeil and Barrage in that capacity.

I am proud of the fact that while my technical ability on most instruments is quite limited; I have been able to work at a very high level for over 40 years, often relying on the music income as a firm basis of my employment income in many years. I have had the opportunity to open for numerous ‘name’ acts and am honoured to been able to do so. I try to surround myself with great musicians and feed off them both for the support that they provide and the motivation they provide to improve. For this, I am very thankful. When a band about joining or subbing approaches me, my warning to them is “God invented guitar players to play solos so keyboard players didn’t have to. Set me up in the back and let me fill in the holes”. This philosophy has seemed to work for me for a significant number of years now.

I try to be a big supporter of local music over national acts, buying the CD’s and attending shows when possible. But I work a lot so we make donations when I can’t make it.
Having lost my lady to brain cancer some time back, I have spent time the last few years giving back, particularly when cancer benefits are involved. I prefer local benefits where I can see the results of our efforts, or to help out a local family, or in the case of Jeff Burrows 24 hour drum marathon – an institution like Transition to Betterness. The world would be a better place if we all gave back a bit.

Contact Info: [email protected]

From this old hippie, peace